The funding will support the development of the Avant Source platform, which aims to standardize workflows and improve cell-free DNA recovery.
Avant Genomics, a company developing automated liquid biopsy sample preparation, has raised more than $3 million in funding to advance its diagnostic platform.
Investors in the round include TitletownTech, Halyard Ventures, Virginia Venture Partners, CAV Angels, and Global Impact Fund. The capital will support research and development, manufacturing, and hiring, according to the company.
Currently, liquid biopsy sample preparation is primarily manual, involving more than 50 steps that can lead to inconsistent results and reduced recovery of tumor-derived cell-free DNA. The Avant Source platform is designed to automate this workflow, reducing the process to two steps and cutting processing time in half.
“We believe precision cancer care starts with preparation, and this support helps accelerate that shift,” says Rachelle Turiello, PhD, CEO of Avant Genomics, in a release. “Liquid biopsy is only as reliable as its sample preparation. We’re building a platform that standardizes the preparation workflow so results are consistent and scalable, unlocking broader use in clinical settings.”
The system improves DNA yield by as much as 70% compared to semi-automated tools, according to a press release from the company. By removing manual variability, the platform aims to make liquid biopsy more reliable and accessible for clinical laboratories.
“We invested in Avant because the future of diagnostics and personalized medicine depends on automation,” says Jill Enos, managing partner of TitletownTech, in a release. “As technology advances, what labs are capable of is moving faster than the workflows supporting them. Avant is helping close that gap by bringing consistency and scalability to a step that has historically limited the field.”
Avant Genomics was founded as a spin-out from the University of Virginia by Turiello and Renna Nouwairi, PhD, chief operating officer. The company focuses on microfluidics and nucleic acid detection for clinical and forensic applications.
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